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A New Day . . .

In Athens the Apostle Paul found an altar with an inscription to an unknown god. As he preached the gospel of Jesus to the Athenians he chided them for worshiping an obscure god with no name. How much better, Paul explained, to worship the true Lord of heaven and earth. In fact, Paul described God as orchestrating the allotted times of our lives, and even the boundaries of nations. As we see the international crisis today unfold, we might ask, Why does God work in this way?

Paul answers: So that people everywhere "should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each of us." (Acts 17:27, ESV).

Recently God has redrawn our "allotted times and boundaries." He has led us to a new season of ministry among refugees, whose boundaries have certainly been upended!

Last month, we prayerfully chose to step away from a ministry and an organization that we have loved like family since 1983, The International Mission Board. Increasingly, Mark was spending half of his time in Richmond, Virginia -- making work with internationals here unsustainable.

We evaluated our current season of life at age 58, fasted and sought counsel before making this significant decision. Essentially this means three things:

1. Refined Focus - We now have time to give ourselves wholeheartedly to God's work among immigrants scattered from their homelands, landing in our city.

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men." Col. 3:23, ESV

2. Dependent Faith- Since we are no longer receiving an IMB salary, we are fully trusting the Lord to provide our needs, knowing this journey will require frugality, hard work and diligent prayer.

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:19, ESV

3. Partnering for Discipleship - God is gathering a tight knit group of long time and new friends with whom we partner in ministry. Three young couples and a lovely single lady moved into the refugee apartment complex called "RT." Together we meet weekly to pray, share, worship and plan.

Now we are free to deepen our involvement with Hussain Andaryas. Last month the Andaryases ofAfghan Christian Media hosted us for a wonderful weekend. We fellowshipped around delicious Afghan food, worked on some important projects, prayed and enjoyed a long walk together.

In addition, we have reconnected with Mark Lewis, our university Navigator campus leader from 1979. He invited us to travel to Chicago last month for an enriching Navigator gathering of theirNations Within ministry focusing on internationals in the United States. We learned so much!

Many of you have prayed for us for years. It is prayer that we value above all. This new new day in our lives and ministry will only be fruitful with God's intervention and the empowering of His Spirit. Thank you for your continued prayers. Now, please share with us ways we can pray for you.

"It is always & altogether His work before it is ours." (Miriam Adeney)

How exciting and an inspirational too. I will certainly commit to regular prayer. I’d love to meet for lunch Mark and here more and talk about how I might get involved. I am in the housing industry in the inner city and I’m sure God could use that somehow. Drop a line and I’ll call you. God’s Best!

Mark and Cindy, I’m excited about this new direction. It sounds like the perfect opportunity for both of you at such a time as this. Bless you both for your willingness to invest in the lives of refugees in our city. We have several refugee families at our school. Steve and I will be praying.